Permutated Ring Network for On-Chip Communication Scaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
On-chip communication networks face scaling challenges due to increasing wire lengths, fan-out nodes, and clock distribution issues, leading to degraded bandwidth and latency, which limits the growth of high-bandwidth communication networks.
Innovation Solution
A permutated ring network architecture utilizing bi-directional source-synchronous ring networks with multiple data transport stations, allowing for scalable and efficient data transmission by minimizing clock skew and fan-out, and optimizing communication paths to achieve high-speed, low-latency communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the number of on-chip communication nodes is increased to support higher bandwidth requirements, then the communication bandwidth capacity is improved, but the wire length and routing congestion increase which degrades the operating frequency and bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The network is divided into multiple unidirectional ring networks that can be independently configured and scaled. Each ring operates as a separate communication channel, allowing the system to accommodate more nodes without proportionally increasing wire length in any single ring, thereby maintaining operating frequency while scaling node capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional two-dimensional mesh or torus topologies to a multi-dimensional ring-based architecture where nodes can be connected through multiple rings in different directions. This dimensional expansion allows for more efficient routing paths and reduced congestion as nodes are distributed across multiple communication dimensions rather than a single plane.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional network topologies are used to scale up the number of nodes, then node capacity is increased, but place and route congestion occurs which degrades speed and power performance
Solution Approach 1:
Traffic is segmented across multiple unidirectional rings, distributing the routing load rather than concentrating it in a single network fabric. This segmentation prevents any single routing path from becoming a bottleneck, thereby reducing place and route congestion even as the number of nodes increases.
Solution Approach 2:
Each communication node can utilize multiple rings for data transmission, providing universal access through multiple paths. This multi-functionality allows traffic to be routed through alternative paths when congestion is detected, preventing single-point bottlenecks and maintaining performance as node density increases.
3Stability of the object's composition
If synchronous clock distribution is used in large scale networks, then system coordination is maintained, but clock skew limits the operating frequency and increases power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
Clock distribution is optimized for each unidirectional ring independently, allowing local clocking strategies that minimize skew within each ring. This localized approach to clock distribution maintains system coordination while reducing the cumulative clock skew that would occur in a single large-scale synchronous network, thereby enabling higher operating frequencies.
4Area of stationary object
If wire length is increased to connect more nodes, then network coverage is improved, but signal delay and operating frequency are severely degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The physical network is segmented into multiple shorter unidirectional rings rather than one long interconnected fabric. This segmentation maintains broad network coverage by distributing nodes across multiple rings while keeping individual wire lengths within each ring relatively short, thereby reducing signal delay and maintaining high operating frequencies.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 2
AI summary
A permutated ring network includes a plurality of bi-directional source-synchronous ring networks, each having a plurality of data transport stations, and a plurality of communication nodes. Each of the communication nodes is coupled to one of the data transport stations in each of the plurality of bi-directional source-synchronous ring networks.